We’ve had our cat Ole (pronounced Oh-Lee) for 14 years… he was rescued by one of our friends, her son sat in the snow in a tshirt and shorts for a couple of hours try to coax Ole to come to him… Our friend gave Ole to us cause she knew we were looking for a cat. We think Ole was abused by adults and children… he wouldn’t even come near me when we first got him. But over the last 14 years he has become part of our family. We laugh when he sleeps in all sorts of crazy positions on the couch, when he chases after absolutley nothing and then runs into the refrigerator. We laugh when I gently squeeze his tail and then he turns around suddenly just like The Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz but brushes against my hand just before I squeeze the tail again. This week our vet told us Ole has cancer… and he has anywhere from a few weeks to a few months left… I don’t know how to deal with losing him… I don’t really have a good, clear memory of when he wasn’t in our house… I have Mark’s book… I actually bought a signed copy off the website… but I just can’t bring myself to read it yet. I don’t want to lose Ole… he is the first cat we’ve ever had for this long we’ve given cats away or they ran away… but Ole has been with us for 14 years… he is a part of the family… and we’re going to lose him… How do I get through this? How do I make it through? How do I go on after he’s gone? I don’t know that I can… I can’t stop thinking about him and about how much pain he is going to start going through and I don’t want him to suffer but I also can’t think of what it will be like to lose him. I don’t know how to get through this…

Robbie from TX

I have to admit that before this week, I had never heard of Mark Levin. We had a huge ice storm here in Ohio last week that knocked out power to over 70,000 people. I am a teacher and school was cancelled. I decided to head out to the store and find something to do (and keep warm). I got my daughter a coloring book and decided to get a book for myself. The last book I read was Marley and Me. It too is about a dog and I was still in the mood for a feel good book like that one. Rescuing Sprite caught my eye. There was something about that face on the cover that made me want to buy it and read it. It took me almost 2 days and a box of tissues to get through it.
I have always had a dog. We got our beagle, Mickie, before I was born. According to my parents she was quite the pain but I don’t remember that at all. I loved her. She was hit by a car one night when I was in the 6th grade. I was devastated. My other childhood dog, Jet looked a lot like Pepsi. She was part irish setter part black lab. She was a black irish setter. She was the sweetest thing. She was the favorite. One day when I was 14. I let her outside before school. She didn’t come back. (more…)

My cousin bought me Mark’s book for Christmas 2007. At the time, I could not read it because I was right in the middle of the “watch” for the time when my beloved Gerry Lee would have to be put down. It’s been six weeks; I picked up Mark’s book last night and read it in two hours. It was so hard to read. As I read about the torture of he and his family losing Sprite, I lost Gerry Lee again. Reading the book was very cathartic and was a blessing to me. I am so grateful to Mark for writing the book and for sharing Sprite’s story with dog lovers all over the world.

Joy from GA

Just want to relate a dog story , no pix needed as Bear was marmaduke a great big black great dane who stole my heart. On the day he died he was fine , walked around the yard and took it all in one last time. The thing I can not believe to this day is a the cat who ran from him every day of her life sat down with him and put her paw on his leg as he laid in the back yard while we were just taking it all in . She put her paw on his paw and just sat there looking at him . It was a sigt to behold. It was like she was saying it was ok and goodbye the cat knew. Later on the dog waited by the door for my husband to come home and then went iin the bedroom and laid down to die , my husband came out and said I think the dog is going to die .During the entire death process Bear was aware and if I stopped petting him he put his head up to make sure I would keep petting him till it was over . I cry just writing this to you. It was so beautiful , my loving boy went to doggie heaven wiith dignitythat day. I miss him every day and still have not gotten another dog , when the right one comes along I will know.
Thanks for letting me share this story.
I loved the book , you did a great job writing from the heart on a level all could relate to. Thanks.
Janet from NJ

Adapted for my daughter when we lost our beloved Shane

THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT
Minniepeg’s Shane Of Echo Lake

I, Minnipeg’s Shane of Echo Lake, familiarly known as Shane, Del and some times Shannon; because of the burden of my illness, realize that the end of my life is near…and so I hereby bury my Last Will & Testament in the heart of my friend, Kimberly. She will not know it is there until some time after I have changed worlds. Then, remembering me in her sadness, she will know.
I have little in the way of material things to leave. Dogs are much wiser than men. We do not set great value on things. I have only my love and courage to bequeath.
I ask her to remember me always but not grieve too long. In my life, I’ve tried to be a comfort to her in time of sorrow & a reason for added joy in her life’s happiness. It is painful for me to think that in death I should cause her pain. Let her remember that while no dog ever had a happier life, I have grown ill and pained. I have a great sense of pride & dignity & would not want to sink to bewildered humiliation. It is time for me to say, “Good-by”. It will be a great sadness to leave you but not a sorrow to die.
What will become of me as I change worlds? Who knows? I like to believe I will be in a place where I will romp in fields with Flower, and some day, be joined by friends I’ve known in life. Where every hour is mealtime and there are fireplaces with logs burning where I spend long evenings with the memory of your touch. This is much to expect but peace is certain.
One last word of farewell, my Dear Friend…Whenever you think of me, say to yourself with sadness but also with happiness in your heart at the remembrance of my happy life with you; “He is the one who loved me and whom I loved”. No matter how deep my sleep, I shall hear you and our bond will remain forever unbroken
(Author Unknown)

Edward from NJ

I first saw Maggie on Sept 1 2005 in Abilene Texas. Maggie is a smooth border collie and had the traditional black and white colors. Maggie was very scared, had almost no hair left and was very thin. It took me more than an hour before this frightened dog would even allow me to touch her. I was determined to not let this poor dog stay in her foster home and with a lot of patience and a few dogs treats I managed to put a colar and leash on Maggie and put her on the floor of my truck. Maggie stayed on the floor the entire three hour drive back to Fort Worth. It was when I finally arrived back at my house Maggie started to shake even more than when I first saw her, obviously Maggie had been taken on many trips to either be dropped off or possibly beaten. I brought my other dog Cheyenne another border collie out to the front yard and it was then I allowed Maggie to come out and explore her new home. Maggie of course was quite scared, timid and unsure. I kept Maggie on the leash scared she might run off and there would be no stopping her. Once inside my home I let Maggie have total freedom and the run of the house. Cheyenne is my oldest and constant companion and the most tolerant animal I have known. Cheyenne sensed Maggie needed to be left alone and to let her become accustomed to her new surroundings. Maggie bonded with me quickly and only growled once at Cheyenne. That growling has never occured since the first night. Maggie ate a good meal and slept in a comfortable and warm and dry doggie bed and immediately had a case of diarrhea. The front carpets needed cleaning anyway. and it was not her fault for relieving herself. Poor Maggie was not used to eating such good food. I take Maggie to my vet the next day, he finds fleas and a few ticks and then also discoveres poor Maggie has heartworms. So again Maggie must go through another seperation, as my vet keeps her for 18 days through the heart worm medication and treatment process. I have an incredibly compassionate and caring vet and I visit this dog everyday. Maggie comes home, free of fleas, ticks and no more heartworms. I still have to gain Maggies trust and love and within a year, Maggie is a true member of my household. I take this incredible dog along with Cheyenne on walks and we play frisbee in the front yard about every night. No animal deserves to be abused or forgotten. Dogs give love unconditionally, they never lie or steal from us and I only wish I could find more people that had the same traits as my two border collies. Maggie has thrived and gained weight and confidence, she will always be a bit timid and thunder storms still frighten her, but she has brought me much love and is a true friend and also my constant companion.

Bob from TX